Track and Field Comments on the Rules - 2020

4-6-5g - Providing assistance to an injured or ill competitor is generally portrayed as good sportsmanship; therefore, may not be penalized. The competitor receiving assistance is disqualified, but when no advantage is gained by the competitor assisting or their team then the assisting competitor may not be penalized.

5-3-3 and 4 – In relays with legs of 200 meters or less the acceleration zone has been eliminated and the exchange zone has been expanded 10 meters in the direction of the incoming competitor. The rule does not require that tracks be repainted or resurfaced so there is no immediate cost to schools. The committee believes that this change will ease the officiating of the exchange.

6-2-6 – Running backwards or in the opposite, non-legal direction, is now a violation on all horizontal jumps, pole vault or javelin runways. The change provides a more organized warm-up period; giving athletes more awareness of their surroundings to help minimize injuries during warm-ups.